Indigenous youth voices on the impacts of ultra-processed foods

Gathered around a fire in two traditional Sámi tents outside FAO headquarters, Indigenous representatives, country delegates, NGOs, academics, and experts—such as those from HLPE, IFAD, and FAO—discussed Indigenous Peoples’ challenges. This setting encouraged an inclusive and open dialogue, accentuating the importance of respect and collaboration in sustaining Indigenous foodways.

Ultra-processed Foods – A Crucial Discussion Point

In light of increasing urbanisation and related dietary shifts, the impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) was a crucial discussion topic. Delegates of the Indigenous Youth shared their experience on the effects of UPFs on their communities. All represented regions raised shared concerns about the disruptive influence of UPF consumption, which is connected to struggles regarding land tenure rights, health, and environmental and cultural loss. As Seemran Rashmi Bansingh (Asia Delegate) expressed the issue:

“This is not even food. They are ultra-processed products.”

Culture and knowledge loss

The risk of culture and knowledge loss related to UPFs was voiced as a serious concern by all Youth delegates. The influence of media, which is perceived to glorify UPFs and, in turn, horrify practices such as traditional hunting, was highlighted. These media campaigns influence young generations to turn their backs on Indigenous food culture and seek a sense of belonging through the consumption of UPFs. With fewer young people interested in traditional foods, valuable knowledge is getting lost with the ageing of community elders. The consumption of UPFs is experienced to create a loss of the connection with the land and culture.

Health impacts

The Indigenous Youth delegates raised significant concerns regarding the increasing health issues and addictive components of UPFs. Among younger generations, these addictive properties seem to undermine traditional food choices.

Brenda Saloj (Latin America & Caribbean Delegate) highlighted how nutritional deficiencies due to limited access to traditional foods have led to increased health complications for newborns and decreased life expectancy of people, with UPFs becoming a dominant part of the diet. Additionally, Brenda explained how access to medical aid is often scarce but also mistrusted due to negative experiences throughout history.

Land access rights

Access to land is agreed to be at the core of Indigenous food sovereignty and, therefore, food security. Lahela Kamehanaokala Mattos (Pacific Delegate) highlights how tourism and militarism are drivers of land access deprivation and displacement of Indigenous communities, resulting in increased reliance on UPF-dominated diets. Both drivers lead to high rates of local food exports and an import of UPFs, disrupting Indigenous food systems. Despite a UN-level rights declaration, these rights are not well-known nor endorsed enough locally, restricting Indigenous communities’ ability to practice hunting and gathering. Additionally, Lahela touched upon how urbanisation displaces local species, making traditional foods harder to source, while increasing living costs force communities to rely on low-quality UPFs.

Economic challenges

Mai Thin Yu Mon (UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus Delegate) pointed out that the UPFs that reach Indigenous communities are of the lowest quality to make them affordable. Adding to that, Bernard Loolasho (Africa Delegate) noted that these products are processed far away, diminishing the chance of local economic benefit.

Proposed solutions and opportunities

As a closing of this fire talk, the representatives were asked about opportunities or solutions to combat the impacts of UPFs on their communities:

• Reclaiming land rights as a focal point to self-govern food systems
• Education and actively offering access to traditional practices
• Unite and exchange knowledge among Indigenous Youth to achieve legislative shifts
• Food sovereignty at the core of conceptualising food security
• Social community networks need to be secured and strengthened
• Financial aid to make Indigenous foods available again to the communities
• Self-advocacy, empowerment and dismantling beliefs

The Indigenous Youth delegates agreed that the impacts of UPFs pose a severe threat to their communities. Their discussions underlined the urgency of supporting Indigenous Peoples in addressing the effects of UPFs and globalisation pressures. Meeting spaces such as the annual get-together of the FAO Global-Hub facilitate collaborations to address such issues. They amplify the voices of the Indigenous youth, whose experiences further informed the technical discussions over the following days.

This post is written by Livia Kastner, a recent Master’s graduate in Sustainable Development at Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Livia wrote her thesis, “Reconnecting to Food: Can Sámi Indigenous Ontology help guide Sweden to a Sustainable Food System?” aiming to explore Sámi Indigenous perspectives to determine how they can contribute to a sustainable food system in Sweden and help achieve the food-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.